Frankston Area Obituaries — 1999-Present

Here are the obituaries posted for the current month from information provided courtesy of local and area funeral homes and published on their websites or those submitted by families. If an obituary is overlooked and it is desired that it be posted, please inform us at frankstondepotlibrary@gmail.com . Families may request changes or additions, if required. If you have an obituary for a person who has connections with someone or some family in the Frankston-Poynor-LaRue or Lake Palestine area that you want posted to this month or to the archives, and is not currently posted, please let us know at frankstondepotlibrary@gmail.com . Obituaries selected or submitted should follow a format which is essentially consistent with other obituaries posted here or by funeral homes and follow standard grammatical style. Through arrangements with funeral homes and/or the families, we will publish pictures with current obituaries. We will add pictures to archived obituaries from the print version of The Citizen newspaper prior to September 2019 when available. Pictures with archived obituaries posted after that will be added in cooperation with funeral homes or on requests from families.  As was the tradition of the Citizen newspaper, obituaries are published at no charge.

(Obituaries listed chronologically by date of death or funeral service.)

Kristy Hutchins

A funeral service for Kristy Hutchins, 63, is scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston with her son, Bro. Kris  Hutchins officiating.

Visitation will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Kristy was born on June 23, 1960, to Square Walker and Hazel Haynes Walker and went to be with the Lord on the morning of Oct. 27, 2023.

Kristy was an avid lover of music, and it surrounded her life. Whether she was delivering mail on the rural routes of Frankston during her 28 years with the United States Postal Service or at home in her free time, she could always be found listening to Southern Gospel, Country music and of course, her favorite, Elvis Presley. Her most favorite place to be was around the piano singing the old hymns of the Church with her Daddy. When she wasn’t singing or listening to music, she was watching reality TV shows such as Judge Judy or singing based talent shows like American Idol or The Voice. Kristy was also a long-time member of Taylor’s Chapel Church in Tecula and spent many loving years there being encouraged in the faith.

Kristy was preceded in death by her mother, Hazel “Big Mama” Walker.

Left to cherish Kristy’s memory are her father, Square “Big Daddy” Walker of Fincastle; children, Kris Hutchins and wife, Amy, of Poynor, Stephanie Mewbourn and husband, Arron, of Martin’s Mill, Chad Hutchins and wife, Debbie, of Mineola; Tisha Radney and husband, Sean, of Mineola; sister, Kathy Hudson of Fincastle; brother, Kelly Walker of Fincastle; grandchildren, Brittany, Courtney, Justin, Haley, Dustan, Ryan, Bailey, Mary, Gavin, and Kinsey; great-grandson, Brantley and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Gavin Ficco, Shawn McCoy, Carey Walker, Brett Walker, Bill Walker, and Bradley Walker. Honorary pallbearers will be Cotton Walker, Shayne Walker, Bobby Walker, and Sean Radney.

Robert Johnson

A funeral service for Robert Johnson, age 67, is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston with Philip Johnson officiating. Visitation will begin one hour before. He will be laid to rest at Frankston City Cemetery.

Robert was born on April 4, 1956, to Robert Phillip and Pearlee (Bell) Johnson and passed away on Oct. 23, 2023.

For over 35 years, Robert worked for Tyler Pipe as a millwright. He was such a hard worker, that even after work, he would always be busy with other tasks. Robert was known best for having a servant’s heart and putting others before himself and that’s what made him happiest.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 44 years, Mindy Johnson; brothers, Philip and Fred Johnson; and sisters, Violet Buris, Carolyn Sanders, Lillian Warren and Linda Johnson.

Left to cherish Roberts’s memory are his wife Becky Johnson of Frankston; sons, Brad Johnson and wife, Vertie of Flint and Drew Johnson and wife Candace of Bullard. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Holly Prewit of Oklahoma, Ryan Miller Wheeler of Oklahoma, Justin Wheeler of Houston and Amy Tull of Tyler; sisters, Pearlene Pierce and husband Harold of De Berry, and Darlene Lipincott of Bullard; and in-laws, Joe and Rebecca Glenn of Frankston; Billy Glenn and wife Leah, Joe Glenn Jr., William Glenn and wife Tina and Dianne Glenn. His grandchildren are Kristina, Sierra, Tara, Aaron Beau, Bailey Noah, Tenley, Blair, Reed, Carter, Rilo and Rhiannon; and great-grandchildren Gable and Dianna; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Beau Johnson, Levi Johnson, Devin Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Noah Johnson and Colten Faulk.

Bedford Glenn “Bruce” Ballow

Bedford Glenn Ballow, 87, of LaRue went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Oct. 18, 2023 in Tyler. He was born on April 10, 1936, in Canton.

“Bruce”, as he was known to most, was a kind and gracious husband, father, pawpaw and friend. He was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. He loved spending time with family, especially his grandkids. Bruce liked listening to music, anything from gospel to Texas Swing, but he especially enjoyed Bluegrass. Bruce was a farmer at heart and he enjoyed working his little herd of cows, raising chickens and working in his garden with Vaunda.

Bruce is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Vaunda Lee Costlow Ballow. He is also survived by his sons, Johnny Glenn and wife Barbara, Bruce Wayne and a daughter Lisa Ballow Moring; his grandchildren, Justin Bradley Ballow, Dexter Miles Ballow, Kayleigh Moring Russell, Jacee Leanne Ballow, Michael Wayne Ballow; five great grandchildren, one brother Randy Ballow of Oregon and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents John W. and Lina Tankersley Ballow as well as 13 brothers and sisters.

Bruce had a very strong work ethic, displayed through the many hats he wore over his lifetime. He was an assistant manager of several A&P stores around Texas as well as Northern California. He was a Ford Tractor Salesman and owned and operated a residential construction company as well as Athens Paint Center.

In 1984 he made the decision to retire from the construction business and open a convenience store in LaRue and later one in Poynor. While operating his store in LaRue, Bruce was able to enjoy two of his many passions – serving people and cooking barbecue. It was from this store that the birth of his pet project, Ballow’s Chili Seasoning, came about. There was nothing Bruce enjoyed more than hitting the road and peddling his chili seasoning all over East Texas. At the time of his death Bruce had returned to the construction business to work with his family.

Services were held Monday, Oct. 23 at Eastern Hills Church of Christ in Athens, under the direction of Autry’s Carroll & Lehr Funeral Home. Visitation was at 1 p.m. and the service at 2 p.m. at Eastern Hills Church of Christ.

Pallbearers were Justin Ballow, Dexter Ballow, Michael Ballow, Gary Costlow, Dwayne Raines and Steve Keith.

Honorary pallbearers are Colton Ballow, Easton Ballow, Kyle Russell, Phillip Costlow, Gaylon Costlow, Gary Costlow and Lloyd Hanks.

The family suggests memorial donations to Boles Children’s Home in Quinlan, Texas with the website for donations at armsofhope.org/donate . Under the designation box, donors may click on Boles Campus then check the tribute gift section to add the memorial gift for Bedford Ballow.

Harvey Alan Cecil

Harvey Alan Cecil, of Frankston, was born on Sept. 19, 1955, to Clem and Lola Blanche (Grubbs) Cecil in El Paso and passed away on Oct. 5, 2023.

Harvey Alan Cecil was invested in the lives of others. He was involved in the Boy Scouts in the Order of the Arrow. He would often perform native dances in costumes that he designed himself. Alan had a love for music and the outdoors. Camping out with his family was one of his favorite things. Alan served his country honorably as an Army medic. He will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to have known him.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents, Clem and Lola Cecil; son, Robert Cecil; and daughter, Kristy Cecil.

Alan's father, Clem, retired from the El Paso Fire Department and moved to his native Frankston and became Fire Chief of the Frankston Volunteer Fire Department in the 1980s. He subsequently became Fire Chief for the Jacksonville Fire Department where he served until his death.

Left to cherish Alan’s memory are his wife, Marie Cecil, of Frankston; his two sons, Brandon Krahmer and Jason Krahmer; and brother, Dan Cecil and wife Sherry. He will be dearly missed by numerous friends and extended family.

A memorial will be announced at a later date.

(Obituaries posted contain information posted by funeral homes and/or requested by families. Families may request changes or additions, if appropriate or required.)